Tuesday, February 19, 2008

On weekends the Cleveland police have set up three to four police cars around the area of two clubs in the West Bank of the Flats, Metropolis and Shooters. The city also concurrently extended a one-way segment of Elm Street (intentionally poorly marked) and added new stop signs on the surrounding streets, essentially setting up a trap.
The police have been using this as a money machine for almost two months, issuing no warnings and ticketing everyone they can get their hands on. I personally witnessed this carnival for 3-4 hours last Friday night. This is supposedly in response to a gang shooting in the area...
Supposedly, ticketing people from the suburbs that come into Cleveland to spend money and keep the area vibrant somehow addresses a local crime problem. I’m sure that gang-bangers probably don't pay their fines and, therefore, aren't profitable to apprehend. The city again is doing whatever it takes to destroy what little life it has left.
Every time an area of the city becomes popular and well attended, the police swoop down with a money making plan that eventually ensures the area ends up nearly abandoned. Both the west and east bank of the flats used to be busy, profitable and vibrant areas that generated much needed revenue for the city and drew people in from suburbs to spend money.
The city of Cleveland already destroyed the east bank. Now they are attempting the same on the west bank. The fines collected for each violation range from $180 to $400. Why can't the police actually do something to patrol unsafe areas, and specifically target the people causing the problems, instead of ticketing people who come in from outside the city to spend money and behave? Is it not profitable enough to actually fight crime?
Marc Harris
Lakewood